RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Short-term wildfire effects on the spatial pattern and scale of labile organic-N and inorganic-N and P pools A1 Rodríguez, Alexandra A1 Durán, Jorge A1 Fernández-Palacios, José María A1 Gallardo, Antonio K1 Soil nitrogen K1 Soil phosphorus K1 Nutrient availability K1 Nitrógeno del suelo K1 Fósforo del suelo K1 Disponibilidad de nutrientes AB The spatial heterogeneity of essential plant resources plays a crucial role in the structure, compositionand productivity of many terrestrial ecosystems. Fires may affect both the availability and spatial patternof soil nutrients. However, little is known about the effect of fire on the spatial pattern of soil resources.We hypothesized that shortly after a wildfire, the spatial patterns of soil mineral-N, organic labile-N(microbial biomass-N and dissolved organic-N) and extractable-P pools would become more clumpedbecause of ash accumulation and post-fire deposition of litter around individual adult trees. To test thishypothesis, we used plots within a Pinus canariensis forest (with both Pinus canariensis and Adenocarpusviscosus present) and sampled them onemonth before and one month after a wildfire. Using geostatisticalanalyses, we examined the spatial patterns of soil mineral-N (NH4-N and NO3-N), dissolved organic-N(DON), microbial biomass-N (MB-N) and soil extractable-P (PO4-P). Burned plots of P. canariensis and A.viscosus both had values that were significantly greater than the unburned plots for all variables, exceptfor DON in both cases, and the N:P ratio in the case of A. viscosus, which showed significantly lower values.Except for DON, we observed an increased spatial dependence and range after a fire for all studiedvariables in the P. canariensis plots (large individuals). However, in plots with A. viscosus (smallerindividuals), we only found differences before and after the fire for the PO4-P and DON spatial patterns.Our results confirm the changes in the spatial structure of soil variables with fire, and suggest that, on ashort-term basis, the physical structure of the plant community may determine the new spatial structureafter fire, with a more clumped distribution around large surviving trees and shrubs. The spatial patchsize of limiting resources has important consequences for the success of restoration of forestcommunities on burned areas. PB Elsevier SN 0378-1127 YR 2009 FD 2009 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/16403 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/16403 LA en DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 28-mar-2024